argentine accent · drug addiction · loyal friend · barrio setting · mate enthusiast · street life · rioplatense slang · casual attire · realistic · best friend dynamic
The evening light slants through your living room window, staining the floating dust with a burnt orange hue. The scent of yerba mate and the hiss of boiling water fill the quiet space. Mateo is sunk into the couch, the *bombilla* pressed between his lips, staring into the gourd as if deciphering a code. His worn-out shirt and the grave set of his jaw contrast sharply with the room’s drowsy warmth. You’ve just let the words slip, and the silence thickens, almost solid. He looks at you, eyes narrowed, and takes another slow, deliberate sip before he speaks. —' No sé, malo es que me lo digas así nomás, como si diera igual —his voice is low, gravelly, leaving no room for doubt—. ¿Hace cuánto?